DIET or DIE w/a T???

[queenbee]

It is so very hard to modify your eating habits.
After all you like what you were raised on and comfort foods are great.

We had lot's of fried foods and starchy foods growing up, and some of those choices were because it was what our parents could afford, cheap, quick and easy. Gardens are great now, but when I was growing up I told myself row after row of weeds, "I ain't never going to have a garden".

I love hot bread with butter, that is my weakness.

It has taken me awhile to change over and I still love fried foods, but now when I eat fried foods they don't sit really well on my stomach. So a bite or two will do me.

I could still dive head first into hot bread and never look back, that's why I try to keep just wheat bread at the house and that's it. Get thee behind me Satan, the problem was all that bread was going to my behind and it's still there.

We don't have insurance either so it is a change on several levels for us.

Grumpy is considering doing the gall bladder cleanse again this weekend, only a lighter version of it.

[queenbee]

OK
I KNOW THAT THIS IS WRONG ON SO MANY LEVELS
BUT IT IS A RECIPE I HAD TO SHARE

Krispy Kreme Cheesecake

www.deepfriedkudzu.com/2008/02/krispy-kreme-cheesecake-seriously.html

[queenbee]

Went to the gym for a quickie workout. Felt good.
Had a banana before I went and just finished my oatmeal.

Fixin to check into my SPARK page and see my moyivation for the day.

PEACE YA'LL

[queenbee]

Look Great at Any Weight
Forget the Skinny Jeans
-- By Leanne Beattie, Health & Beauty Writer



My closet used to be divided into three sections: clothes that fit when I was 20 pounds heavier; clothes that fit when I was thin but miserable (from my “never-eat-anything-fun” phase); and clothes I could wear at that moment.

Unfortunately, the clothes that actually fit me were the fewest in number. I was tired of either squeezing into clothes that were too small (and feeling like a stuffed sausage) or swimming in big, unflattering clothes. I needed a wardrobe overhaul—I needed to look good right now.

Sound familiar? I bet it does. What women hasn't held on to her "skinny jeans," dreaming of the day she'd wear them again, only to realize that 10 years had passed and they were now hopelessly out of style. Even worse is the woman who holds on to her "fat clothes" because she doesn’t really believe that she will be able to maintain the weight loss she has worked so hard to attain. And so our closets are jammed with clothes that just don’t fit.

Even if you need to lose weight you still deserve to look your best today instead of waiting for the day that you reach your goal weight. Whether you need to lose 50 pounds or just a few, with the right fashion tricks you can look great at any weight.

The trick to looking your best is to recognize your attributes and then play them up to your advantage. Have great legs? Show them off with a flattering skirt and a great pair of heels. Accent an hourglass waist with an eye-catching belt, and nobody will notice that your arms need a bit of toning. It all boils down to drawing the eye away from your weaker areas and calling attention to the parts of your figure that you do feel good about.

Here are some more tips to help you look your best no matter what your size:
Clean out your closet. If you haven’t worn an item in a year (or more!), get rid of it. Sell gently used items to a local consignment shop for some extra cash, or donate them to charity. Don’t hold onto clothing hoping you will fit into it again someday. If you do lose weight, go out and buy yourself some new clothing—you deserve it.


Work with your natural body shape. Even though a piece of clothing is in style, it doesn’t mean that it will look good on you. For example, low-rise jeans aren't flattering on anyone with a bit of a belly, no matter how good they look on the store mannequin or sales clerk. If your bottom is a little heavy, stay away from details like buttons on your jean pockets—they only call attention to your largest part. Instead, balance your figure with a structured jacket with a strong shape.


Don’t over-accessorize. While one necklace is attractive, wearing it with bangles, earrings and a flashy belt is overkill. Pick one strong accessory for the most impact. The same goes with patterns—don’t combine a strong floral print on top with another equally strong pattern on your lower half. Pick the area of your body that you want to emphasize and play it up with an appropriate print.


Don’t cover up your body with clothes that are too big. When you're wearing a dress or top that looks like a tent, you're not fooling anyone about what's really underneath. Fitted clothes (not tight or oversized), usually look best. Find a shapely, figure-flattering style that skims over your less-than-ideal areas while playing up your attributes.


Buy clothes to fit your hips. This is especially important if you’re pear-shaped. If you're one of those women who has trouble finding the right fit in pants and skirts, get the size that fits your hips and thighs best, and then get the clothing taken in at the waist. Don’t squeeze into a too-small skirt just to have it fit around the waist.


Choose the right bra and panties. The right undergarments can make or break your appearance, while the wrong sizes and styles can cause bumps and lumps under your clothes. Select seam-free panties for a smooth look and make sure you are wearing the right sized bra (most women don’t). It’s worth a trip to a higher-end department store to be measured and fitted by a trained salesperson.


Think color. Head-to-toe black may be slimming, but it can also be severe. Instead, dress in the same shade of one color, such as blue jeans and a royal blue t-shirt, to create a long, lean silhouette.


Avoid pleated pants. The extra fabric in the pleats calls attention to your tummy, hips and thighs. Select a flat front style without extra details for a smoother look.
To look and feel your best, don't wait until you're a future size, weight or shape. You deserve to look good and feel great about yourself today! Pick clothes that flatter you, no matter what number is on the label. Make sure you take care of yourself by eating well and exercising regularly too. When you feel good about yourself, you take better care of yourself and the image your project to the world. And always remember that confidence is the best beauty secret of all, no matter what your size!

[queenbee]

Weekend Survival Guide
Stay Healthy and Still Have Fun!
-- By Jen Mueller, Certified Personal Trainer
Can you relate to this desperate dieter’s dilemma?

“I'm pretty good about my diet and exercise program during the week. But when the weekend comes, all of that hard work goes out the window! I constantly find myself ‘starting over’ every Monday morning. How do I get out of this unproductive cycle?!”

One reason weekends are so difficult is that you fall out of your regular daily routines. There are always potlucks, dinners, dates and family gatherings, where trouble is lurking in the form of buffet lines or rich desserts. Weekend menus can also be more difficult to plan - and without a plan, you're more likely to stray from the healthy habits you have been working so hard to develop.

The “Weekend Survival Guide” is designed to help your diet survive those dreaded weekends. Keep it with you - in your purse, in the car - wherever you go. The checklist and helpful tips can keep you focused and on track. Meanwhile, the inspirational quotes can give you a boost of well-timed motivation. If nothing else, remember this: when you start feeling the temptation to slip, ask yourself how you will feel about your decisions once Monday morning rolls around.

TIPS FOR TURNING AWAY TEMPTATION
Plan family activities like bike rides or outdoor games. This helps you spend time with your family and burn calories all at once!


Carry a water bottle with you to your weekend activities. This will help you get your water for the day and resist the temptation to reach for a soda or other caffeinated beverage.


Set some "weekend specific" goals for yourself based on the realities of what you’ll be doing. They may look very different than your weekday goals, and that’s okay.


If you are going to be out all day, pack some healthy snacks in case you get hungry. There is nothing worse than being hungry at the mall, and the only food options are ice cream or pizza.


Set Monday as your weigh-in day. You are more likely to resist temptation if you have to face the scale first thing Monday morning.


Plan ahead!! If you are going out to eat, find the restaurant's menu (and any available nutritional information) online. You’ll have plenty of time to make a healthy choice before you get there.


Don't save all of your splurging for the weekends. Allowing yourself a few treats throughout the week will help you avoid the mindset that the weekend is an excuse to go bonkers. And by spacing your treats evenly, you're less likely to get sudden, irresistible cravings.
With a little extra effort and planning, you can turn weekends into an enjoyable experience and an opportunity to keep your program moving in the right direction!

[queenbee]

DOES ANYONE READ THIS OR AM I WASTING MY TIME???

[queenbee]

Are there any exercises to strengthen my knees, or do I have to wait until I lose more weight?


The best thing you can do is develop strength around your knees without putting a lot of pressure on them. This means targeting your quadriceps, hamstrings and hips. Here are a couple ideas:

Straight Leg Raises – Lie on your back. Keeping your leg straight, lift it into the air. Hold for 10-20 seconds and lower it to the ground. Do the same for your other leg. You can do variations of this on your back, stomach, and both sides as well. Try two sets of 15 reps to start, and slowly progress from there.

Swiss (Physio) Ball Squats – Place physio ball between lower to mid back and wall. Keep your spine in a neutral position. Spread feet shoulder width apart and make sure toes are pointed forward. Slowly bend knees to 90 degrees, and return to standing position, making sure to keep knees bent slightly. Make sure to place feet far enough in front so when you bend to 90 degrees, your knees don't go past the plane of your toes, but only squat down until just before your knees bother you. If you can only go down 1/4 of the way, that's fine; simply hold that position for a little while to help build more strength.

You can also try some low impact aerobic exercises, such as rowing, biking, or the elliptical machine.

You can do any of these exercises on a regular basis. About 4-5x a week should be fine.

[queenbee]

100 calorie snack

Jack Cheese Breadsticks

Refrigerated breadstick dough keeps preparation time to a minimum.


1/4 cup (1 ounce) finely shredded Monterey Jack cheese with jalapeño peppers
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 (11-ounce) can refrigerated breadstick dough (such as Pillsbury)
Cooking spray

Preheat oven to 375°.
Combine cheese and cumin. Cut dough along perforations to form 12 breadsticks; sprinkle cheese mixture over dough, gently pressing into the dough. Twist each breadstick, and place on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray.

Bake at 375° for 13 minutes or until lightly browned.

Yield: 12 servings (serving size: 1 breadstick)

CALORIES 83 (23% from fat); FAT 2.1g (sat 0.5g,mono 0.5g,poly 0.6g); PROTEIN 2.6g; CHOLESTEROL 3mg; CALCIUM 18mg; SODIUM 209mg; FIBER 0.0g; IRON 0.8mg; CARBOHYDRATE 12.7g

[2cedarschick]

Awesome articles Bee!

[queenbee]

Thank you, did you like the KK recipe?

[2cedarschick]

U betcha!

[queenbee]

OK I went to the gym this morning to work off the "Evils of the Weekend".

Did 2 miles on the treadmill in 27 minutes, that's 13.50 a mile.
Pretty good for a 44 year old but I am trying to improve it.

Have a definite plan worked out until school is out.
Mon-Wed-Fri gym, Tues & Thurs morn yoga before work and school. Found a great home workout in Health magazine (my favorite) that I will do in the evenings Mon-Wed-Fri.

There is nothing on TV for me to watch until Thursday's so I have no excuses.

Worked me up a running playlist on the MP3 player, warm-up, fast, slow, fast, etc.

Love Train
Flirtin With Disaster
Midnight Special
Foggy Mtn Breakdown
Volun-tears
Dueling Banjos
Eye of the Tiger
Copperhead Road
Rocky Top Mix
Last Train to Clarksville

My 2 miles ended with Copperhead Road.

[queenbee]

Just did a side by side comparison of ingredients between
One A Day Women's Vitamins and Centrum Performance Vitamins.

It seems that Centrum Performance has more of everything and then some, when compared to One A Day for Women except calcium. One A Day provides more calcium.

Women's Ultra Mega from GNC without Iron far exceeds both of them.

Not much difference between the One A Day Women's and One A Day Weight Smart.

I investigated this because I do not take pills at all, but have decided that I do need vitamins, yuck! I found these in my desk drawer at work and compared them.

Giving the One A Day's to lilred cause she needs vitamins and taking one Centrum and one GNC Ultra a day.

It will be interesting to see if there is a difference. When I took vitamins before, Centrum, I could tell a slight difference in my energy levels, so we will see.

[queenbee]

3 Way's With A Wrap...

1 tortilla wrap ='s

Fruit Pizza. layer 1 small fat free flour tortilla with 1/2 cup fat free grated cheddar cheese and 1 small green apple diced. Microwave on high until cheese is melted.

Veggie Roll, spread 2 smal ff flour tortillas with 2Tbsp hmmus. Top each one with 2/3 cup shredded coleslaw mix and roll up.

Tex-Mex cones, Spread 2 small fat free flour tortillas with 1/4 medium avocado, mashed. Top each with 2 Tbls fat free salsa and roll into a cone.

[queenbee]

Gym this morning

1.09 mile 15 min, did a cool down walk and that's what screwed up my time, YUCK!
I only had 20 minutes to work at it.

BUNS OF STEEL! actually buns of jelly roll